The closure of Total Fitness last week had an immediate impact on Hamilton?s three largest gyms with all reporting an influx of former members in the past few days and one already wait-listing potential members.

When Total Fitness Ltd. abruptly shut its doors for good last Friday, director Joanne Thain estimated the gym had 150-300 members. The closure sent many fitness fanatics scrambling as soon as the next day to find a new place to work out.

By yesterday morning, The Athletic Club closed off its general membership and is now only accepting clients of its Premier Health Corporate Wellness Programme, which is offered in conjunction with Colonial Medial Insurance.

The club?s wellness planning and communications director Jacqueline Teunissen said that since Saturday she has likely seen every former Total Fitness member walk through her doors.

Ms Teunissen said: ?We have a capacity for probably 1300 members, but we closed it at 1200. We want to keep it comfortable, we don?t want our current members to worry about space issues.?

Prospective members are now being placed on a wait list which Ms Teunissen said is three pages long. However she says that memberships open up weekly so there will be plenty of opportunities to sign up new members.

The Olympic Club and Magnum Power Force Gym are still accepting clients and have also seen their share of former Total Fitness members over the past week.

Both gyms have decided to give the former members a break, waiving their initiation fees of $95 and $150 respectively.

Mr. Stallard said however the he is monitoring how many people are joining his gym and he will also cut off membership if it gets too high.

?I would definitely cut it off before it upsets any of our long-term loyal members. If I see classes suddenly getting too full I will definitely cut it off in a day,? he said, adding that he is taking it day-by-day. ?If 30 people came in today I would cut if off as soon as that happens.?

Ron Magnum, owner of Magnum Power Force Gym, has also seen an influx of Total Fitness members in the past few days.

He said: ?My gym is not super packed,? he said. ?They are free to come over. I?m not turning anybody away.?